Methods and substances for strengthening and conditioning human fingernails and toe nails

ABSTRACT

A method and a substance for strengthening fingernails and toe nails of a human being. The method comprises the steps of providing a substance comprising a natural oil composition, a bioactive glass composition and a solvent; applying the substance topically to an outer surface of the fingernail or toe nail; and allowing the substance to dry on the outer surface. The natural oil composition comprises a self-polymerizing oil with an Iodine Value greater than 140. The solvent may be operable to remove nitrocellulose-based fingernail polish. The relative amounts of natural oil composition, bioactive glass composition and solvent are such that the substance is operable to harden and strengthen the fingernail or toe nail.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/583,398, filed on Aug. 21, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Information

The present methods and substances relate to the strengthening and conditioning of human fingernails and toe nails in general, and to the strengthening and conditioning of human fingernails and toe nails using natural oils, solvents and bioactive glasses in particular.

2. Background Information

Because of the difficulty of growing beautiful, long fingernails, commercial establishments have thrived by providing customers with artificial fingernails which give the desired appearance and length. Unfortunately, most artificial fingernails commercially available today exhibit a number of major problems. For one, it is time consuming and expensive to install and maintain artificial fingernails. Also, artificial fingernails may cause severe damage to the underlying natural nail when removed there from. Also, because artificial fingernails are typically occlusive to water vapor, the natural nail onto which an artificial nail is glued may become soft and saturated with moisture, thereby causing fungal infections which may be very difficult to cure.

In an attempt to obviate the need for artificial fingernails, treatments have been developed to strengthen natural nails. Some treatments known in the prior art use formaldehyde. Such treatments are problematic because formaldehyde is a health hazard for many people and has been banned in many locations. Other treatments known in the prior art use fluoride; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,551 to Francis W. Busch, Jr. (hereinafter “the '551 Patent”). The fluoride treatment disclosed in the '551 Patent is effective, but may be problematic in that it takes approximately four weeks before the full benefits of the fluoride treatment are realized. The formaldehyde and fluoride treatments may also be problematic in that they use synthetic ingredients; there is a consumer preference for products that use natural ingredients.

Treatments have also been developed to repair rigid or damaged fingernails (e.g., fingernails damaged by the removal of artificial fingernails). Some treatments known in the prior art use bioactive glasses; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,863 to LaTorre et al. (hereinafter “the '863 Patent”). The '863 Patent teaches the use of a bioactive glass to form a permanent deposit of glass on the nail surface which smoothes a rigid nail or otherwise repairs a damaged nail surface. The treatment of the '863 Patent is problematic in that it is very time consuming; the treatment of the '863 Patent suggests a series of treatments in which the nail is soaked in the bioactive glass solution for 15 minutes and is repeated until a total of 20 hours of treatment has been completed.

What is needed, therefore, are improved methods and substances which overcome the disadvantages of the known methods and substances discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for hardening and strengthening fingernails and toe nails of human beings is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a substance comprising a natural oil composition, a bioactive glass composition and a solvent; applying the substance topically to an outer surface of the fingernail or toe nail; and allowing the substance to dry on the outer surface. The natural oil composition comprises a self-polymerizing oil with an Iodine Value greater than 140. The relative amounts of natural oil composition, bioactive glass composition and solvent are such that the substance is operable to harden and strengthen the fingernail or toe nail.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a substance for hardening and strengthening fingernails and toe nails of human beings is provided. The substance comprises a natural oil composition, a bioactive glass composition and a solvent. The natural oil composition comprises a self-polymerizing oil with an Iodine Value greater than 140. The relative amounts of the natural oil composition, the bioactive glass composition and the solvent are such that the substance is operable to harden and strengthen the fingernail or toe nail.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a multifunctional nail polish remover for removing nail polish from human nails and for strengthening the nails is provided. The nail polish remover comprises a natural oil composition and a solvent. The natural oil composition comprises a self-polymerizing oil with an Iodine Value greater than 140. The solvent is operable to remove nitrocellulose-based fingernail polish. The relative amounts of natural oil composition and solvent are such that the nail polish remover is operable to harden and strengthen the nail.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of the present invention provided below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward methods and substances for hardening and strengthening fingernails and toe nails of human beings. The substances comprise a natural oil composition and a solvent. The substances may additionally comprise a bioactive glass composition.

The natural oil composition comprises one or more self-polymerizing natural oils with an Iodine Value greater than 140 (as determined by the Hanus Method, which method is well known to those skilled in the art). The use of such natural oils is advantageous for several newly-discovered reasons: (1) such natural oils change from liquids to solids after application to the fingernail or toe nail; (2) such natural oils are effective for moisturizing and conditioning nails, and for allowing them to become both harder and stronger; and (3) such hardening and strengthening occurs within only eight hours of application, which represents a significant improvement over the prior art techniques described above. The natural oil composition may comprise any one of a number of self-polymerizing natural oils; e.g., vegetable oils, fish oils, etc. Acceptable vegetable oils (with Iodine Values in parentheses) include flax seed oil (175-204), borage oil (173-182), black current oil (173-183), tung oil (155-175), oiticica oil (179-218) and perilla oil (195-208). Acceptable fish oils (with Iodine Values in parentheses) include cod liver oil (170), menhaden oil (170) and sardine oil (185). The natural oil composition may also comprise natural oils extracted from the plant melaleuca alternifolia, which natural oils are useful for providing antifungal properties.

The solvent of the present invention aids in the penetration of the natural oil composition into the nail (the penetration preferably occurs before the natural oils of the natural oil composition convert from a liquid to a solid). The solvent also shortens the drying time of the natural oil composition. The solvent, when mixed with the natural oil composition in any ratio, preferably results in a clear solution. Acceptable solvents include linear and branched aliphatic hydrocarbons (e.g., hexane, heptane, isopentane, etc.), and mixtures thereof. Acceptable solvents include Odorless Mineral Spirits Chemical Abstracts Number 64742-88-7 (hereinafter “Odorless Mineral Spirits”), which is commercially available, and mixtures thereof. Acceptable solvents include ethyl acetate or butyl acetate, and mixtures thereof. Acceptable solvents include volatile silicones, including Methyl Siloxane Dow Fluid 345, which comprises Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane and is commercially available from the Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Mich. 48686. An acceptable solvent is acetone, which is a primary solvent used to remove fingernail polish. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the solvent comprises acetone, and the resulting substance (i.e., the combined natural oil composition and solvent) is a multifunctional nail polish remover which both removes most nitrocellulose-based nail polish and provides nail strengthening benefits.

The bioactive glass composition comprises one or more glass powders and one or more suspending agents. As discussed above with regard to the '863 Patent, it was known to use a bioactive glass composition to treat nails. However, it was not previously known to use bioactive glass compositions in combination with a natural oil composition and a solvent in the manner described herein. In development of the present invention, it was discovered that such a combination can strengthen the fingernail and smoothen and repair the nail surface with only a single application (i.e., within about 20 minutes of application). This result was highly unexpected and represents a significant improvement over the prior art techniques described above.

The bioactive glass composition may comprise any one of a number of glass powders. The book, An Introduction to Bioceramics (Hench & Wilson eds., World Scientific) (1993), explains the chemical nature of glass powders. The glass powders of the present invention preferably have diameters between 90 microns and 5 microns. Acceptable glass powders include those described in the '863 Patent, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Acceptable glass powders include Silicon, Calcium, Phosphorous, and Oxygen glass powders. Acceptable glass powders include the products sold under the trade names VITRYXX and VITRYXX M by the glass division of Schott Electronic Packaging GmBh, Landshut Germany 84028. Both VITRYXX and VITRYXX M have the following compositon: SiO₂ (45%±5%); CaO (24%+3%); Na₂O (24% 3%); P₂O₅ (6%±2%).

The bioactive glass composition may comprise any one of a number of suspending agents. The one or more suspending agents of the bioactive glass composition are included to prevent the settling of the one or more glass powders on the bottom of the container in which the substance of the present invention is stored. Suspending agents are well known to those skilled in the art, and are described in detail in Harry's Cosmeticology 612-13 (J. B. Wilkinson et al. ed., Chemical Publishing Co.) (1982). An example of an acceptable suspending agent is Disteardimonium Hectorite (Bentone 38V), which is used with the activating agent Propylene Carbonate.

Several embodiments of the substance of the present invention, the methods for making same, and experiments and results obtained there from, are described in detail below.

Experiment 1

The bioactive glass composition suspending agent was first prepared by combining the following ingredients: Disteardimonium Hectorite (Bentone 38V) (25%); Propylene Carbonate (1%); and Odorless Mineral Spirits (74%). The ingredients were combined in a suitable container and processed through a valve homogenizer mixing device. For an example of an acceptable mixing device, see Harry's Cosmeticology 776-780 (J. B. Wilkinson et al. ed., Chemical Publishing Co.) (1982). Ingredients were processed until all of the Disteardimonium Hectorite (Bentone 38V) was completely dispersed and a nearly solid paste was formed. Commercial preparations of the ingredients of these steps may be obtained from Elementis Specialties, Inc., Hightstown, N.J. 08520.

Next, the suspending agent was mixed with the remaining components of the bioactive glass composition, and with the natural oil composition and solvent. The ingredients were mixed in the same mixing device (i.e., the valve homogenizer mixing device) described above. The ingredients were mixed until a creamy-colored dispersion resulted. The ingredients of the substance, in parts by weight, were as follows:

Natural Oil Composition Perilla Seed Oil 5.0 parts Flax Seed Oil 2.5 parts Black Current Seed Oil 1.0 parts Tea Tree Oil 0.1 parts Apricot Kernel Seed Oil 0.2 parts Solvent Odorless Mineral Spirits 76.7 parts Bioactive Glass Composition Schott Vitryxx M 1.5 parts Suspending Agent 10.0 parts Deionized Water 3.0 parts Total 100.0 parts

The substance was then applied to the clean, unpolished fingernails of 10 test subjects with a small brush and was gently finger massaged into the nail and allowed to dry. Prior to the application of the substance, the strength of each nail was measured as follows. A platform was used which positioned the nail over a flattened cylinder. The cylinder created a gap resulting from the curve of the nail positioned over the flat surface. Since the curve of the nail remained constant the distance from the nail to the top of the flattened cylinder remained constant. The force required to bend the nail flat against the cylinder was measured with a force gauge commercially available from Wagner Instruments, Inc., Greenwich, Conn. The force gauge measured the force to bend the nail in grams per square inch. The force gauge is well known to those skilled in the art. In addition to the nail strength measurements, the test subjects were asked their perception of changes in smoothness twenty minutes after application of test composition.

The average force required to bend the nail prior to treatment measured 275 grams force per square inch. The average force required to bend the nail 20 minutes after treatment measured 403 grams of force per square inch. 100 percent of test nails showed an increase. After 24 hours, the average force to bend the nail measured 539 grams of force per square inch. Nails were perceived to be smoother by 9 of 10 test subjects.

Experiment 2

The substance of Experiment 2 was prepared by mixing the ingredients, listed below, using the same mixing device (i.e., the valve homogenizer mixing device) described above with regard to the substance of Experiment 1. The ingredients, in parts by weight, were as follows:

Solvent Odorless mineral Spirits 50 parts Natural Oil Composition Perilla Seed Oil 40 Parts Flax Seed Oil 9.5 Parts Tea Tree Oil .50 Parts Total 100 Parts

It is noted that the substance of Experiment 2 did not comprise a bioactive glass composition, and therefore should not be expected to be as fast acting as the substance of Experiment 1. The substance of Experiment 2 was applied to the clean unpolished fingernails of 10 test subjects, and strength and smoothness data was collected in a similar manner as described above with regard to Experiment 1.

The average force required to bend the nail prior to treatment measured 293 grams force per square inch. The average force required to bend the nail 8 hours after treatment measured 540 grams of force per square inch.

Experiment 3

The substance of Experiment 3 is prepared by mixing the ingredients as above that are listed below. The ingredients of the substance, in parts by weight, were as follows:

Natural Oil Composition Flax Seed Oil 1.0 parts Black Current Seed Oil 0.1 parts Tea Tree Oil 0.1 parts Apricot Kernel Seed Oil 0.1 parts Solvent Acetone 92.4 parts Deionized Water 6.3 parts Total 100 Parts

The substance of Experiment 3 was evaluated in a home use test as a multifunctional nail polish remover that both removed nail polish and also strengthened the fingernail. 76 consumers participated in this home use test. 87 percent of subjects preferred the substance of Experiment 3 because it strengthened their nails. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for hardening and strengthening fingernails and toe nails of human beings comprising the steps of: providing a substance comprising a natural oil composition, a bioactive glass composition and a solvent, wherein the natural oil composition comprises a self-polymerizing oil with an Iodine Value greater than 140, and wherein the relative amounts of natural oil composition, bioactive glass composition and solvent are such that the substance is operable to harden and strengthen the fingernail or toe nail; applying the substance topically to an outer surface of the fingernail or toe nail; and allowing the substance to dry on the outer surface.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural oil composition is chosen from the group of vegetable oils including flax seed oil, borage oil, black current oil, tung oil, oitica oil, and perilla oil.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural oil composition is chosen from the group of fish oils including cod liver oil, menhaden oil and sardine oil.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural oil composition comprises oils extracted from the plant melaluca alternifolia.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent is chosen from hydrocarbons in the group including, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, and odorless mineral spirits.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent is a blend of Decamethylcylopentasiloxane and Dodecamethylcylclohexasiloxanemethylsiloxane.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent comprises acetone.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the bioactive glass composition comprises a glass powder and a suspension agent.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the glass powder comprises powder particles having diameters between 90 microns and 5 microns.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the glass powder is chosen from the group of Silicon, Calcium, Phosphorous, and Oxygen glass powders.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the glass powder is one of the products sold under the trade names VITRYXX and VITRYXX M.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the suspending agent is Disteardimonium Hectorite (Bentone 38V).
 13. A substance for hardening and strengthening fingernails and toe nails of human beings, the substance comprising: a natural oil composition, wherein the natural oil composition comprises a self-polymerizing oil with an Iodine Value greater than 140; a bioactive glass composition; and a solvent; wherein the relative amounts of the natural oil composition, the bioactive glass composition and the solvent are such that the substance is operable to harden and strengthen the fingernail or toe nail.
 14. The substance of claim 13, wherein the natural oil composition is chosen from the group of vegetable oils including flax seed oil, borage oil, black current oil, tung oil, oitica oil, and perilla oil.
 15. The substance of claim 13, wherein the natural oil composition is chosen from the group of fish oils including cod liver oil, menhaden oil and sardine oil.
 16. The substance of claim 13, wherein the natural oil composition comprises oils extracted from the plant melaluca alternifolia.
 17. The substance of claim 13, wherein the solvent is chosen from hydrocarbons in the group including, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, and odorless mineral spirits.
 18. The substance of claim 13, wherein the solvent is a blend of Decamethylcylopentasiloxane and Dodecamethylcylclohexasiloxanemethylsiloxane.
 19. The substance of claim 13, wherein the solvent comprises acetone.
 20. The substance of claim 13, wherein the bioactive glass composition comprises a glass powder and a suspension agent.
 21. The substance of claim 20, wherein the glass powder comprises powder particles having diameters between 90 microns and 5 microns.
 22. The substance of claim 20, wherein the glass powder is chosen from the group of Silicon, Calcium, Phosphorous, and Oxygen glass powders.
 23. The substance of claim 20, wherein the glass powder is one of the products sold under the trade names VITRYXX and VITRYXX M.
 24. The substance of claim 20, wherein the suspending agent is Disteardimonium Hectorite (Bentone 38V).
 25. A multifunctional nail polish remover for removing nail polish from human nails and for strengthening the nails, the nail polish remover comprising: a natural oil composition, wherein the natural oil composition comprises a self-polymerizing oil with an Iodine Value greater than 140; and a solvent operable to remove nitrocellulose-based fingernail polish; wherein the relative amounts of natural oil composition and solvent are such that the nail polish remover is operable to harden and strengthen the nail.
 26. The nail polish remover of claim 25, wherein the solvent comprises acetone.
 27. The nail polish remover of claim 25, further comprising a bioactive glass composition.
 28. The nail polish remover of claim 27, wherein the bioactive glass composition comprises a glass powder and a suspension agent.
 29. The nail polish remover of claim 28, wherein the glass powder is chosen from the group of Silicon, Calcium, Phosphorous, and Oxygen glass powders. 